Process of manufacturing car-wheels.



N0 MODEL.

PATENTED' MAY 24, 1904. W. E. GONNOLLY & J. P. WEIDLEIN.

PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING UAR WHEELS APPLICATION FILED OUT. 28, 1901.

2 sums-sum 1.

WITNESSES:

lN VEN T01? 6. ME. Connolly.

J-P- Weicllzin.

.No. 760,960. PATENTED MAY 24, 1904. w. E. GONNOLLY & J. P. WEIDLBIN.

. PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING GAR WHEELS.

AEPLIOATIOR FILED 0012a. 1901.

N0 MODEL.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A TTORNE 76 UNITED STATES Patented May 24, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. CONNOLLY AND JOHN P. WEIDLEIN, OF ALLEGHENY, PENN- SYLVANIA.

PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING CAR-WHEELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 760,960, dated May 24, 1904. Applicatioh filed October 28,1901. Serial N 80,302. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we,W1LLiAM E. CQNNOLLY and JOHN P. WEIDLEIN, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Allegheny,in the county of Allegheny and State .of Pennsylvania, have invented Y certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Manufacturing Oar-VVheels, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Experience has demonstrated that a perfect car-wheel cannot .be produced with molds which are formed of twomold-sections, each having a hardened inner or mold face, or with a mold having each of the sections provided with a soft inner or mold face. It is impractical to provide the mold-section both with hardened inner or mold faces, for the reason that if the lower mold-section has a hardened face the molten metal when poured into the mold will not lie smoothly thereon, but will boil, and therefore form bubbles and scabs, producing an imperfect and defective wheel. On the other hand, if both mold-sections have comparatively soft molding-faces the upper mold-section cannot be prevented from falling or caving in as the molten metal is poured into the mold.

Where the molten metal is poured upon a hardened molding-face, the metal bubbles and during such action serves to disintegrate the sand in the face of the mold, the sand torn away from the mold during such action rising with the molten metal and adhering tothe mold-face of the upper section, so that both faces of the wheel are disfigured and'rendered blowing of the molten metal, owing to its lying smoothly on the face of the lower moldsection, the metal will rise evenly and steadily in the mold and as a result prevent the formation of scabs on the inner face of the wheel.

We have demonstrated in actual practice that by forming a softer mold-face on the lower mold-section than is provided on the moldface of the upper mold-section the objections heretofore existing tomolded car-wheels are effectually overcome and a perfect car-wheel produced. We accomplish this by forcing the pattern into the sand for forming the mold -face of the upper mold-section and forcing the sand onto the pattern for forming the mold-face of the lower mold-section.

It will be apparent that when the metal contacts with the upper mold-section it will be rising evenly, and for this reason scabbing on the rear face of the wheel is prevented. On the lower mold-section, however, it is clifferent, inasmuch as the metal (being admitted from the top of the mold) fills, first, the hubforming portion of the lower mold-section and then gradually travels over its raised portion into the depressed or rim-forming recesses thereof, and it is by providing the comparaltively soft molding-face of the lower moldsection (formed by pressing the sand upon the pattern) that the metal is caused to flow evenly thereover without bubbling and producing the heretofore-noted defects, which result from a similar mold-section which is provided with a hard molding-face.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, in the several figures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 is a central vertical section of the apparatus, partly in side elevation, the chill being shown removed from the pattern in full lines and in position on the pattern in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a part of the cope and chill, showing the manner of clamping in position. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a part of the base of the apparatus to more clearly show how the stands are adjusted. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a part of the ribs in the cope. Fig. 5 is a central section of the portion of the apparatus employed in the process of forming the rear or bottom face of the wheel. Fig. 6 is a central vertical section of the mold completed to receive the molten metal. Fig. 7 is a section of a part of the drag and pattern, showing how bottom plate is placed in position and clamped before the parts are inverted. Fig. 8 is a section of a part of the pattern, showing the trunnion. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the wedge employed for clamping the parts together. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a part of one of the stands, showing the lug carried thereby for engagement in the base.

While our invention resides in the improved method or process of molding the wheel rather than in the apparatus by which the steps of the process or method are carried into effect, yet we herein show and will describe in detail an improved form of apparatus which we have found to be a practical form of device to accomplish the process.

The apparatus shown comprises a suitable base 1, which is provided with slots 2, radiating from the center to each side of the base and terminating near each side in enlarged openings 3. These slots terminate in enlarged openings, so that the T-shaped heads i of the lug 5 may be inserted into the openings 3 and the lugs inserted into the openings or slots 2. ,These lugs 5 are carried by stands 6, which are mounted on the base 1, and these stands (four in number in the present illustration) are adjusted toward the center of the base 1 or away from the center by means of screws 7, operating through bearing-castings 8, secured to the sides of the base, the screws having squared or other suitably-shaped ends to receive a wrench or other tool for operating. These stands are adapted to support the plate 9, upon which rests the pattern 10, which forms the mold for the outside face of the wheel, this pattern being centrally arranged upon the plate and held in any suitable manner. The stands 6 are made adjustable toward or away from the center of the base, so as to accommodate different sizes of plates 9 and patterns 10, as may be required in the molding of different sizes of wheels. The plate 9 is suitably connected to a piston 11, which extends into the cylinder 12, mounted centrally on the base 1. This piston carries within the cylinder a rigid piston-head 11 and an adjustable piston-head 15, the latter being threaded onto the piston-rod, so as to limit the movement of the piston rod, and consequently limit the movement of the plate 9 and pattern 10. This piston actuates the plate 9 and pattern 10 through the medium of hydraulic, air, or other pressure admitted into the cylinder below the piston-head 14 through a suitable pipe 16, which is connected to a suitable source of pressu re-supply. (Not shown.) Each of the stands 6 carries in its upper end an adjustable stop 17, which is adapted to be engaged by the chill 18 when the latter is lowered into position on the stands before forming the mold for the front or outer face of the wheel. These stops are adjusted in practice so that the distancebetween the lower face of the chill 18 when the latter is on the stops and the upper face of the plate 9 will be exactly the same as the throw of the piston governed by the piston head 15. Each of the stands also carries a stud or guide pin 19, which is adapted to re ceive an apertured lug 20, carried by the chill, to hold the latter centered when lowered into position. This chill comprises an annular body provided at opposite sides with trunnions 21, which receive a bail 22, with which connection with a suitable hoist or crane (not shown) is made for elevating and lowering and also moving the chill and cope out of position.

The cope 23 is adapted to be mounted upon top of this chill 18 and is securely fastened thereto by means of lugs 24: on both the chill and cope, which receive bolts for binding the two parts together. This cope 23 is adapted to receive the sand 25, in which the mold for the outer or top faceof the wheel is formed, and after the sandhas been placed within the cope the latter is covered with a plate or cover 26, centrally apertured to receive the pouring-gate 27, at the bottom of which is a coreprint 28 of the usual form of construction, preferably made of a composition'of sand, mo lasses, and other ingredients, as well known in the art. This cope is also provided with a spider 29 to support the sand when the chill and cope are elevated. The pouring-gate and core-print are placed in position previous to filling the cope with sand. These parts described are for forming the outer or top face of the wheel, and after the chill and cope have been lowered into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and the pattern 10 actuated, so as to form the mold, the cope and chill are clamped to the stands by clamp-rods 30, pivoted in lugs 31, carried by two of the stands,

with eyes at their upper ends to engage a cross-bar 32 or like device laid across the top or cover 26. These clamps are tightened by means of turnbuckles 33 or equivalent devices. In forming the outer or top face of the wheel the stands 6 are first adjusted to position to accommodate the size of supportingplate 9 being employed, as may be required by the pattern being used. The stops 17 are then adjusted and the piston-head 15 adjusted or regulated to conform to the distance it is desired to move the pattern. The pattern 10 is suitably connected to the plate 9, the latter being connected to the piston, and the chill, with the cope empty, is lowered to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 for the chill. Previous to this the core-print 28, with pouring-gate 27, is placed in position on the pattern 10, and after the chill and drag have been lowered into position the sand is placed in the cope without ramming of the sand and plate 26 then placed in position. The bar 32 is then placed across the plate 26 and tightly clamped by means of the rods 30. Pressure is then admitted to the cylinder below the piston-head 15, so as to move the piston, plate 9, and pattern 10, and core-print 28, forcing the same into the sand to form the mold for the outer or top face of the wheel. When pressure is relieved and the piston, with plate 9 and pattern 10, descends, the coreprint is left in the bottom of the pouring-gate in the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The clamping-rods are then disengaged from the bar 32, the latter removed, and the chill and cope, with the mold therein for the outer face of the wheel, arefree to be elevated and carried bya hoist or crane (not shown) to the desired position.

The rear or bottom face of the wheel and also the completed wheel are formed as follows: The apparatus for forming the rear or bottom face of the Wheel consists of a suitable base 34, provided at opposite sides with trunnions 35, to which the frame 36 is connected. Mounted on the base 34 is a pattern 37 having a die on its upper face to form the rear or bottom face of the wheel. This pattern carries lugs 38, which are apertured to engage over pins 39, carried by the base.

Mounted on the pattern 37 and secured by lugs-40 and pins 41 is a drag 42, comprising an annular ring adapted to receive the sand 43. Secured to the underneath face of the top bar of the frame 36 is a cylinder 44, in which operates a piston rod' 45, having the rigid piston-head 46. and adjustable pistonhead 47 Pressure is admitted to the cylinder for the operation through pipe 48, leading into the top of the cylinder, and for the release through a pipe 49, leading into the lower end of the cylinder, these being connected to a common supply-pipe 50 through a four-way valve or cock 51, an exhaust 52 being also connected to this valve or cook. The pattern 37 is provided with trunnions 37, so that a crane, hoist, or like device may be connected thereto for moving same.

The pattern 37 is placed upon the base 34 and adjusted on its pins 39. The drag is then placed in position on the pattern, and an annular ring 53 is then placed on top of the drag. The latter is then filled with sand and a plate 54 is placed on top of the sand, the latter extending flush with the top edge of the ring 53. This plate is then suitably fastened to the piston 45 and pressure is admitted to the cylinder through pipe 48 against cylinder-head 46, pushing the plate 54 downward into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig.

, 5 to form the mold for the rear or bottom in full lines in Fig. 5, at which time ring 53 is removed and bottom plate 55 (see Fig. 7) is placed in position on the drag and held by clamps 56, which are tightened by wedges 57. Plate 54 is removed or disconnected from the piston-rod 45, and frame 36 is swung back on its trunnions out of the way. Connection is then made with the trunnions 37 of the pattern 37, and this pattern and the drag are picked up and inverted and rest upon bottom plate 55. Then clamps 56 and wedges 57 are removed,'the hoist carrying the pattern out of the way and leaving the mold within the drag ready to have the other portion of the mold placed thereon.

When the drag has been thus inverted and placed in the desired position by the hoist, the chill 18 and cope 23 are then placed in po-' sition on the drag, as shown in Fig. 6. When in this position, the lugs 20. on the chill fit over the pins 41 on the drag 42, and suitable clamps 58 are employed for binding the cope, chill, drag, and bottom plate together, these clamps being of like form to the clamps 56 and secured by like wedges 57. The completed mold is then formed ready to receive the molten metal.

What we claim is- V 1. Theprocess of casting car-wheels in sand, which consists in forming a relatively soft molding-face on the drag by pressing the sand from the rearagainst the pattern confined in the drag, and forming a relatively hard molding-face on the cope by forcing the pattern into the sand confined in the cope, assembling the parts of the mold so formed, and pouring in the metal through the cope onto the relatively soft surface of the drag, whereby the metal will build up smoothly, without boiling and without disintegration of the mold.

2. The herein-described process for forming molded car-wheels, which consists in providing a sand mold having one of its moldingfaces softer than its other molding-face, and

pouring the molten metal into said mold onto the softer face, substantially as described.

3. The herein-described process for forming molded car-wheels, which consists in providing a mold havingthe molding-face which forms the inner face of the car-wheel hardened to a less degree than the molding-face forming the outer face of the car-wheel, and pouring the molten metal into the mold upon the molding-face whichforms the inner face of the car-wheel, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM E. OONNOLLY. JOHN P. \NEIDLEINI Witnesses: I JOHN NOLAND, A. M. WILSON. 

